title: A multi-function public health surveillance system and the lessons learned in its development: the Alberta Real Time Syndromic Surveillance Net.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe a centralized automated multi-function detection and reporting system for public health surveillance--the Alberta Real Time Syndromic Surveillance Net (ARTSSN). This improves upon traditional paper-based systems which are often fragmented, limited by incomplete data collection and inadequate analytical capacity, and incapable of providing timely information for public health action.
  
  
  METHODS
  ARTSSN concurrently analyzes multiple electronic data sources in real time to describe results in tables, charts and maps. Detected anomalies are immediately disseminated via alerts to decision-makers for action.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ARTSSN provides richly integrated information on a variety of health conditions for early detection of and prompt action on abnormal events such as clusters, outbreaks and trends. Examples of such health conditions include chronic and communicable disease, injury and environment-mediated adverse incidents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Key advantages of ARTSSN over traditional paper-based methods are its timeliness, comprehensiveness and automation. Public health surveillance of communicable disease, injury, environmental hazard exposure and chronic disease now occurs in a single system in real time year round. Examples are given to demonstrate the public health value of this system, particularly during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
authors.affiliation: Population & Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB. shihe.fan@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Shihe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabos
authors.forename: Lance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Honish
authors.forename: Trina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaipaul
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubchenko
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mashinter
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Meurer
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nardelli
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Predy
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shewchuk
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sosin
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wicentowich
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Talbot
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D040442:Public Health Informatics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*